bombazo-dance-yellowBrooklyn, NY—Brooklyn Botanic Garden celebrates the return of spring and cherry blossom season with Art in the Garden: Spring Weekends, a series of over 60 pop-up music and dance performances presented over the course of four weekends, from April 17 through May 9, in locations spread across the Garden. And to make the most of the season—and provide a COVID-safe, socially distanced visitor experience—the Garden is extending its hours until sunset, also from April 17 through May 9.
 
Visitors will be able to enjoy performances by more than 20 artists including Japanese dance organization Sachiyo Ito and Company, Bombazo Dance Company, Brownstone Jazz Ensemble, and Mantra Percussion, while taking in the sights of the Garden at springtime: the renowned cherry blossoms, colorful magnolias, sunny daffodils, and more.
 
Art in the Garden: Spring Weekends is presented in partnership with Haiti Cultural ExchangeFiveMylesCumbe Center for African and Diaspora DanceBrownstone Jazz, and the Brooklyn Public Library. All programs are free with Garden admission.

Full Schedule
Saturday, April 17
1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Sachiyo Ito and Company
The Japanese dance company performs three works: Sakura, Cherry Blossom; Yanagi no Wakaba, Young Leaves of Willows; and an excerpt from Shiki no Hana, Flowers in Four Seasons.
 
2 p.m. | Plant Family Collection
Jonathan Michel with Talie Cerin
Bassist Jonathan Michel and singer Talie Cerin celebrate Haitian women composers.
Presented in partnership with Haiti Cultural Exchange
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Osborne Garden
Djembe Drumming Ministry
A trio of drummers, led by Dr. Ava Jolley from First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, play West African rhythms to wake and inspire.
Presented in partnership with FiveMyles

Sunday, April 18
1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. | Osborne Garden

Afro-Cuban Dance with Tony Domenech
Traditional folkloric dances, songs, and music with origins in West and Central Africa.
Presented in partnership with Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance
 
2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. | Plant Family Collection

Brownstone Jazz Ensemble
Eric Lemons (bass), Marco DiGennaro (piano), and Dwayne Cook Broadnax (drums) play jazz.
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Fragrance Garden

Annette Phillip & Stacey Ann Douglas with Stanichka Dimitrova
Two members of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Nannies’ Fairy Tale Writing Workshops read their stories and poetry, accompanied by Stanichka Dimitrova on violin.
Presented in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library

Saturday, April 24
1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. | Osborne Garden
Masayo Ishigure & MIYABI Koto Shamisen Ensemble
Spring-themed Japanese contemporary ensemble music played on shamisen and koto.
 
2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. | Water Garden
SAKAI & RINO
Japanese popular and anime songs with Okinawa music by SAKAI on ukulele/guitar/vocals and RINO on sanshin/vocals.
 
3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Nobuki Takamen Trio
Jazz standards, jazz versions of Japanese popular and children’s songs, and Takamen’s original tunes.

Sunday, April 25
1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. | Osborne Garden
Adam Fisher
Adam Fisher sings his hilarious original animal songs, accompanying himself on the cello.
Presented in partnership with FiveMyles
 
2 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Mia, Okai & SeeYou
Mia, Okai, and SeeYou perform traditional Haitian folk songs and drumming.
Presented in partnership with Haiti Cultural Exchange
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Water Garden
Shira Kobren
Fresh off the release of her new album, Kobren offers an interactive, family-friendly performance of Jewish pop and rock.

Saturday, May 1
1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. | Osborne Garden
West African Dance with Kotchegna Dance Company
Dancers in elaborate masks and the explosive percussion of a corps of brilliant drummers bring to life the ancient stories of Africa’s Ivory Coast.
Presented in partnership with Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance
 
2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. | Plant Family Collection
Brownstone Jazz Ensemble
Eric Lemons (bass), Marcus Persiani (piano), and Cleave Guyton (sax/flute) play jazz.
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Fragrance Garden
Nannies’ Fairy Tale Writers with Musical Guest
Presented in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library

Sunday, May 2
Hourly from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Mantra Percussion, loved.
Every hour on the hour, Mantra Percussion performs loved., a site-specific sound composition for seven percussionists playing tuned metals.
 
1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. | Plant Family Collection
Keisha St. Joan and Her Ensemble
Legendary song stylist Keisha St. Joan gathers her ensemble to share the joys of jazz and blues.
Presented in partnership with FiveMyles
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Water Garden
Joanie Leeds
Singing Jewish and secular songs from her nine children’s albums, Grammy Award winner Joanie Leeds celebrates spring, New York City, and animals.

Saturday, May 8
1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. | Osborne Garden

Bomba with Bombazo Dance Company
Bomba, an exuberant dance executed as a conversation between drummer and dancer, celebrates Puerto Rico’s African roots.
Presented in partnership with Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance
 
2 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Riva Precil featuring Monvelyno Alexis & Markus Schwartz
Riva Precil and guests perform a fusion of Haitian rasin (roots), jazz, and African rhythms.
Presented in partnership with Haiti Cultural Exchange
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Fragrance Garden
Nannies’ Fairy Tale Writers with Musical Guest
Presented in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library

Sunday, May 9
1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. | Cherry Esplanade
Brownstone Jazz Ensemble
Eric Lemons (bass), Lafayette Harris Jr. (piano), and a guest artist to be announced play jazz.
 
2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. | Lily Pool Terrace
Sachiyo Ito and Company
 
3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m. | Osborne Garden
Frank London
Trumpeter Frank London of the Klezmatics is joined by Deep Singh and Ilya Shneyveys to play traditional and modern klezmer, with a spicy mix of Russian and Punjabi music.

About Brooklyn Botanic Garden  
Founded in 1910, Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG) is a 52-acre urban botanic garden that connects people to the world of plants, fostering delight and curiosity while inspiring an appreciation and sense of stewardship of the environment.
 
Stay connected with @brooklynbotanic on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter for plants in bloom, gardening how-tos, and more.

Photo: Bombazo Dance Company. Courtesy of artist

Contactcommunications@bbg.org